The Book Eating Magician Chapter 361:
Chapter 361 - Seimeis Legacy (2)
Wuuong!
There was no room to avoid it . Theodore couldn’t cope with the speed of this light despite being transcendent . The three artifacts were the true nature of the light .
If they contained any hostility, his super sensitivity might be able to read it . However, there were no such feelings at all . After a moment, Theodore realized that the three artifacts were assimilating with his body, and he could use all three powers naturally without any sense of incongruity or rejection .
‘ . . . Amazing . They truly are treasures worthy of being called ‘divine artifacts . ’
The concentration of power flowing throughout his body was unreasonable . He could now fully handle a dragon heart, but the power of the three artifacts went beyond that . If possible, he wanted to try using it right now . Theodore felt a sense of fulfillment and was looking down at his palms when there was a sudden sign of an attack .
“You thief―!” Kamiizumi, the young swordsman couldn’t shake off his pride despite being reproached by his grandfather .
Magoshiro was a genius who became a swordsman at the age of 30 and whose grandfather was called the greatest samurai . Who would’ve taught him to be humble? Nobutsuna sometimes told him to control his temper, but Magoshiro had a thick head and only listened with one ear .
‘How dare this outsider?! The Heavenly Sword is my fortune!’ Magoshiro thought this despite not having the courage to challenge the Heaven and Earth test . While the people present were baffled by the unexpected event, Magoshiro raised his sword and stepped forward . Nobutsuna belatedly tried to stop him, but Nobutsuna couldn’t move faster than another master .
Kiiing- There was the sound of Magoshiro’s sword emerging from its sheath .
‘Hoh, it is faster than I thought?’ Theodore watched the sight and understood Magoshiro’s acceleration . The technique of acceleration by using the opposing force of the sheath and blade was quite fresh . It was a difficult technique to use unless the blade was a dao, but Randolph used two swords and had more application possibilities .
‘No, can I imitate this acceleration with the magnetic field?’ Theodore only thought up to there as the tip of Magoshiro’s sword arrived at his neck . From here, Theodore had to move quickly .
Pajijik . He turned into lightning in a flash and raised **** . His right hand was clenched into a fist, with **** raised like a blade . It was an action to borrow the power of the Heavenly Sword . A sword energy formed around one finger while Theodore struck forth like he was holding a real sword .
“Heok!” It might be due to his mood but Sword saint Kamiizumi Nobutsuna saw it one step too late .
At this moment, lightning broke the whole world into two .
“Kuook! M-My arm . . . !” Simultaneously, Magoshiro’s right arm was cut, spraying out with blood . The aura blade of the god-sword, which could slice apart the clouds, tore up the opponent’s arm .
Theodore inwardly felt a sense of amazement, but he spoke in a detached manner, “You can see that I wasn’t too excessive on that boy . ”
“ . . . Of course . ”
Magoshiro collapsed . His injury wasn’t more severe because Nobutsuna had used his sword to block the attack . Otherwise, Theodore would’ve taken Magoshiro’s life .
However, could this prideful grandchild overcome the reality and the sense of loss? Nobutsuna sighed as he thought about the difficult future . He picked up Magoshiro and took a few steps back, expressing his intention to not intervene in this situation .
“There is no need for things to be difficult . ” Theodore said
It was an irreversible situation . Theodore thought so, but it was too much to come here and leave with only the divine artifacts . He needed their help to overcome this disadvantageous situation .
“It may be hard to believe, but I came here because Abe no Seimei told me to . It is why I could pass the Heaven, Earth, and Human Test right away and also why the divine artifacts recognize me as their master . ”
“ . . . ”
“ . . . ”
The Japanese people looked at Theodore with disbelieving eyes . Even so, they didn’t have the courage to antagonize Theodore, who had used their founder’s name . Besides, there was some evidence despite it not being confirmed . Theodore naturally perceived their thoughts but couldn’t do anything . Then at that moment . . .
“Hmm?”
Something wriggled inside his body . Theodore felt uncomfortable and concentrated on the sensation . Suddenly, it burst out of his body like a popcorn kernel popping . A blinding light poured out .
“Oh! It is as good as I thought . Is my soul treated as part of the subject?” It was the same Seimei as the one Theodore had met in the spirit world .
“ . . . Seimei . Did you use the Eight Jade Magatamas?” Theodore immediately grasped the situation . Seimei nodded with admiration . “That is correct . You understand quite quickly . I can’t use my strength properly, but this is the immediate effect . Isn’t that right?”
The last question wasn’t toward Theodore but to the Japanese people, who were facing someone who seemed to be a ghost .
A living legend, Abe no Seimei—his portraits were still hung in many places, and there were hundreds of adaptations of his biography in literary works . He might be over one thousand years old, but it was rare for a person in Japan to not know his face .
"I-I greet Founder Seimei!” Suzuka realized his authenticity before anyone else and fell to her knees, with Nobutsuna and Toman quickly following . It was a bow that even the Japanese monarchy didn’t receive . However, Seimei just nodded lightly and gestured for them to rise . “That greeting was enough . Child, I have a long story to tell you . Can you provide me with a space?”
“Of course, Founder! We will do our best!”
“Yes, thank you . And . . . the descendants of Kamiizumi?”
“Yes, Founder,” Nobutsuna replied in a heavy tone .
Seimei pointed to Magoshiro . “I will pay my respects to all your hard work so far . But that child doesn’t have a good spirit . ”
Nobutsuna blushed and bowed . “I am sorry . ”
“He must’ve been born with that temperament . I will reattach the severed arm as soon as he grows . ”
“Yes! I will teach him strictly . ”
“I believe you . ”
After speaking a few words with Toman, Seimei finally turned to the waiting Theodore . The humiliation of handing over the three divine artifacts to him was already forgotten . Seimei ignored the shocked and delighted Japanese people as he pointed in a single direction . “Now, let’s separate . We have become two bodies, so can’t we move more efficiently?”
“To where?”
“It is determined . The mountain nearby . ”
It was the great mountain where Seimei had sealed the youkais in the past . In front of a place that was more dangerous than anywhere else, Theodore accepted the proposal with a calm expression .
* * *
Kuoong― Kuoong― There were sullen cries as a bird flew away from the dreary and twisted mountain . The bird’s reddish eyes, black feathers, and distorted body were proof that it had been bitten by a youkai . Theodore stepped on decaying leaves while thinking . The Oe Mountain that Seimei brought him to truly had a different interior . The flora and fauna were beyond the standards of living . Ordinary humans wouldn’t be able to survive for more than a few minutes after entering this mountain .
“ . . . At the very least, their instincts will be left behind . But for how much longer?”
The creatures knew instinctively not to approach Theodore and didn’t dare do so . It was proof that the beast’s instinct was suppressing the urge to attack and kill the living, but there were limits to self-control . Once the urges surpassed their instincts, the creatures would pounce on Theodore .
‘I want to face the big ones before that . ’
It wasn’t scary . It was just annoying . If the number of creatures reached the thousands or tens of thousands, fatigue would pile up . He didn’t want to waste unnecessary energy in a situation like this . The flora and fauna of the mountain had been influenced by the youkai for centuries . Once they emerged, he would need to sweep away all the worms or weeds without leaving a single one behind . At that moment, Goetia’s voice filled the quiet mountain air, [Master, there is one life form approaching Master . No, two, three, four . . . They are continuing to increase . There are at least 10 . ]
“This seems to be the right place . ”
Once Goetia finished speaking, Theodore’s super sense shook sharply . It was proof that the power of those approaching could threaten Theodore . The monsters from the old days were coming . In Oe Mountain, his detection ability didn’t work well . The sensitivity of a transcendent fell to less than half, leaving Goetia to do the work . Therefore . . .
—Tuhwak!
Theodore moved quickly as something reached his location . It was teeth strong enough to chew steel armor and crush rocks, and its speed was comparable or even faster than an aura blade .
Chaaeng!
However, its level wasn’t high enough . Theodore unleashed one punch, and the monster’s body was thrown out in the opposite direction . Some of its prized teeth shattered, feeling the air with debris . Even so, it wasn’t enough to take the monster’s life .
‘Besides, there isn’t just one or two . Are they small fries?’
They were on the same level as the creatures he had seen in the swamp a while ago . It would be difficult for a master to cope if the number was in the double digits . The creatures left their injured colleague and came rushing in .
“Hrmm . ” Theodore changed his mind about his actions regarding the power of Magoshiro’s aura blade and his right arm . He wanted to apply some of the original strength of the Heavenly Sword . In his lightning state, he was able to mix lightning with his brain . Then he consciously used his Sorcery .
Synergy-Harmonize .
Soul Calibre on his right arm was combined with the Heavenly Sword .
Fusion Complete: Beheading Heavenly Sword .
Theodore swung his right arm horizontally at the monsters . He didn’t care about distance and just emitted power . A green flash filled the mountainside, but there were no visible changes . There were no rushing monsters, no chaotic atmosphere . . . Nothing .
The leaves cut in two scattered in a lonely manner, while the bodies of the monsters were cut in half as the momentum drove them past Theodore . Some were cut at the waist, some from the throat, and some from the chest . The sword that cut the soul ignored any regenerative power, cutting at the flora and fauna that had become youkai . It blew them away! Theodore opened his mouth after sweeping the battle line away with a single swing .
“I won’t talk with these small fries,” Theodore’s harsh words filled the Oe Mountain . “The man who is the leader of this mountain should come out . ”
Theodore had come to a forbidden zone, which had been sealed for a thousand years, and spoke haughtily while spilling blood . A youkai growled at the provocation . It was a one-eyed giant holding a club . The whole mountain was filled with tension like a fight would begin at any moment .
. . . Kuhat . Then someone’s laughter broke the silence .
“Kuhahahahahat!” A giant appeared with a loud laugh . They had purple skin and a monstrous presence .
The giant had a metal clasp on his leather clothes and stood near Theodore . His pace was relaxed as he gazed into Theodore’s eyes . This giant was much stronger than Nobutsuna . Theodore looked up confidently and asked, “You are the leader?”
This caused the giant to laugh with delight and nod . “Kuhuhu, you are a funny guy . That’s right! The name of this elder is Shuten-doji, leader of Oe Mountain . ”